Technological evolution of hunting implements among Pleistocene hunter-gatherers: Osseous projectile points in the middle and upper Magdalenian (19-14 ka cal BP)

The Middle and Upper Magdalenian have yielded rich and diverse assemblages of osseous hunting technology, including projectile points (barbed or not), foreshafts, and spearthrowers. Within the Magdatis project, the evolution of this technology at French sites was reassessed by building an extensive dataset of C-14 dates on Magdalenian hunting implements, selecting assemblages with good archeological homogeneity and taking into account questions of manufacture, hafting, and use. A finer four-stage chronology was established in coordination with lithic studies. A steady evolution was identified, marked by the intensification of antler exploitation and the increasing diversity and complexity of osseous armatures. This evolution is the continuation of a long-term trend that began in the Badegoulian and Lower Magdalenian and that culminated in the Late Middle/Early Upper Magdalenian, showing a special emphasis on composite projectile tips and evidence of the long-distance circulation of osseous materials and objects. A simplification process then takes place, with much of the technical innovation now centered on barbed implements to the detriment of the rest of the weapon kit, a trait that may announce the Azilian. (C) 2015 Elsevier Ltd and INQUA. All rights reserved.